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An old hotel that has been modernised with a touch of flair

As part of our trip to Scotland we ended up having a couple of nights in Edinburgh. I booked this hotel through the website as it sounded centrally located and looked nice too. I am also a Priority Club member and this hotel is part of that group of hotels so I earned points as well.

The hotel is only five minutes walk from Waverley station and a half hour taxi ride from Edinburgh airport - providing the taxi driver knows how to get around the road works!.

FINDING THE HOTELAnyone who has been to Edinburgh recently will know that the place is a building site and several roads are being dug up in order to install tram lines. It is total chaos and of course our hotel 's road was one of those closed and as well as that many of the roads are one way or only to be used by buses and taxis. It was utter hell on wheels. Our satnav combined with the hotel's instruction took in circles and we also went down a street we should not have in error. We finally gave up and parked the car by the blocked road screen and my husband walked to find the hotel and ask how we could get to their car park.

The road was not only closed it was a big gaping hole so my husband walked all the way up then saw the hotel over the hole in the road and had to walk all the way back to a place where he could cross and then walk back up to the hotel. The receptionist tried to show him on a map and eventually she agreed to come with him to guide us. Thank goodness she did as we would never have gone up the narrow cobbled street beside some road works as it really didn't look like a road cars were meant to go up.

ARRIVALThe lovely young lady then guided us with all our luggage to the hotel and booked us into our room. She then took us up to our room and showed us in. She really couldn't have been more welcoming and helpful and I think she felt my husband's stress when he first arrived and wanted to calm him down and make him feel it was worth the effort to get to the hotel.

RECEPTION AND LOBBYThis was such a surprise after walking along the street outside. We entered a door in a Georgian terrace and inside was really ultra modern with a sort of Scandinavian cum art nouveau twist. This is a really lovely boutique hotel and every one of its rooms and suites is decorated in a different way. The lobby had comfortable seating and wooden floors and was an area you would feel very comfortable sitting and meeting friends.

This area led onto the bar and then through to The turquoise thistle Restaurant which can also be accessed from outside through a door further down the street. I will come back to them a bit later on.

OUR ROOMThis was fabulous and not at all what we were expecting. It was huge with a really king sized bed divided from the rest of the room by a media centre. The TV could be swung round to watch it from the bed or from the living area.

The living area had a chaise long and a chair as well as a slim desk/table under a mirror. On the media centre divider were two orange shaded modern table lamps. The media centre could be used for the laptop or music or whatever connected through the TV and under this were shelves and drawers to put clothes or anything else you wanted to in for storage. The wall paper on this back wall was an enlarged old map of Edinburgh in more muted colours than the other wall paper in the room

The bed was really high with huge soft pillows and a small orange cushion in front the sheets were white soft cotton and then an orange runner across the bottom and then on the bed with cylindrical brown cushion on the bed. The headrest was silk rounded cushions attached to the wall behind in a muted sand sort of colour which went up really high, almost four foot up. The wall paper behind however was not one that you would miss with huge orange flowers very in your face but actually really great in the room.

On the right as you came in was a set of shelves with tea and coffee stuff including biscuits all on a tray. The mini bar of soft drinks was all included as was the chocolate and indeed everything in the fridge. Then there were more open shelves for clothes or whateverThe bathroom door was next and then there was a wardrobe in which we found the safe, shelves, laundry bags and hangers too.THE BATHROOMThis was beautiful with a lovely big bath, a huge shower cubicle with two different shower heads and large rectangular modern basin with mirror behind. The toiletries were lovely and great quality Aveda shampoo, conditioner, soap and shower gel and I made good use of these. The room was tiled in pale colours all around and the shelf unit had orange painted inside walls and glass shelves. Sadly I made good use of the toilet too as I managed to get food poisoning and spent the entire day in the room while my husband went out to explore the city. At least it was a lovely room to be ill in!

OTHER BONUS FEATURES IN THE ROOMWifi was FREE! Hallelujah a hotel that realises we like to use wifi and it doesn't actually cost them that much to offer it free.A lovely free welcome tray with fruit and biscuits on a little tray on the desk.The contents of the fridge was all inclusive so we paid no extra.The media centre allowed you to use the connection to watch things from your laptop on the TV.Every room was different.

THE BARThe bar was very different with modern Scandinavian hanging lighting. Seating was low leatherette sort of sixties chic style in mushroom and orange colours. The bar stools with black and square on silver stands. The staff were lovely, friendly and pleasant and efficient too. We looked at tghe menu while we enjoyed our drinks and then ordered our food. They then came and invited us through to the restaurant when our food was ready.

THE TURQUOISE THISTLE

DINNER:The service was superb and timing perfect. We were invited in when our meal was ready.

I ordered the Megrim which is a flat white fish and this was served with caper crushed potato and roast garlic and leek sauce. It was beautifully presented and very tasty too. My husband ordered the 10 Hour cooked shin beef with celeriac puree, red wine poached root vegetables and potato bannock and again this was beautifully presented and according to my husband was delicious.

We chose not to have starters as I get too full and then feel I have missed out on the pudding. The deserts offered a choice of three different ones and I chose the open apple tart with crème brulee ice cream and ameretto syrup. My husband selected the whisky Drop scones with orange curd, maple and pecan ice cream which he said was very tasty.

The price for the two courses from the set menu eating before 7pm was £12.95 per person; three courses would have been £16.95. If you ate after 7pm and before 9pm then the two courses would be £16.95 and the three courses 19.95. If you then still felt a bit peckish you could add coffee and petit fours for £3.95 per person.

The room was modern and clean looking with turquoise and brown decor. The chairs were really heavy so I struggled to pull mine in enough but the waiter did help me. I was pretty impressed with our meal and the service. We both thought the decor was really different, modern and stylish.

BREAKFAST:This was part buffet and part cooked from a menu. The buffet included fruit, yogurts, pasa big range of cereals and fruit juices. The cooked menu I am afraid I took very little notice of as i was feeling a bit uncertain. My husband enjoyed a huge plate of black pudding, bacon, scrambled eggs and more but even he didn't have everything that it was possible to select. Toast was brought to the table and you had a choice of white or wholemeal. Jams in little pots were also brought to the table.

Sadly I was not really able to enjoy breakfast on either morning as the first morning I felt a little uneasy in the stomach and the second morning I felt very delicate as I spent the previous day with S&D and spent the day in the bathroom and our bedroom.

It was such a disappointment to me to miss the things we had planned on that day. One was afternoon tea at the Balmoral Hotel but we had to phone and cancel. Luckily I was able to see the Royal yacht Britannia and Rosslyn chapel on our way home from Edinburgh so all was not lost.

RECOMMENDED?Yes this was a fabulous hotel but getting there by car is a real challenge. I would think getting there by train might be easier. I would suggest if going by car just get to the blocked road and walk to the hotel leaving someone in the car in case a policeman comes. Then someone will come and guide you to the carpark.

Otherwise the hotel is great and the rooms fantastic with free wifi and free fridge contents and lovely Aveda toiletries.

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Product Details

Location: close to St. Giles' Cathedral and Palace of Holyroodhouse / Number and type of rooms: 60 guestrooms featuring iPod docking stations and flat-screen televisions. Complimentary wireless Internet access keeps you connected, and satellite programming is available for your entertainment. Private bathrooms have rainfall showerheads and designer toiletries. Conveniences include direct-dial phones, as well as safes and desks / Rec, Spa, Premium Amenities: fitness facility, complimentary wireless Internet access and tour/ticket assistance / Dining: Enjoy a meal at a restaurant, or stay in and take advantage of the hotel's 24-hour room service. Quench your thirst with your favorite drink at a bar/lounge / Business, Other Amenities: 24-hour front desk, multilingual staff, and a safe deposit box at the front desk. Parking (subject to charges) is conveniently located nearby.